CLIA report shows strong recovery of the cruise industry

20-05-23

The latest annual survey of the global cruise industry shows that the global cruise industry’s rapid recovery continues, with the industry set to cross the pre-pandemic levels this year and rise by another 20 pc by 2028.

A total of 31.5 million passengers are expected to sail aboard a cruise ship in 2023, overaking the pre-pandemic high reached in 2019. This is one of the key findings of the State of Cruise Industry Report 2023 released by the Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA).

The CLIA report says that cruise industry continues to be one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors, jumping from 29.7 million passengers in 2019 to a predicted 36 million by 2024, 37.2 million by 2025 and 39.5 million passengers by 2027.

The CLIA report says that the growth will not be seen in passenger numbers, but also in the capacity of the global cruise industry which is predicted to grow by 19 pc to more than 746,000 lower berths from 2022 to 2028. Research also showed that 85 pc of those that have cruised will sail again, about 6 pc higher than pre-pandemic totals.

The CLIA report says that cruise passengers are making a positive impact, as 63 pc of respondents said they have returned to a destination first visited via cruise ship. Travelers also spent an average of USD 750 per person in port cities throughout a typical seven-day voyage.

North America remains the most significant source market, but the industry as a whole has seen a major upswing, with the Mediterranean seeing a massive increase and the Caribbean remaining the top destination for cruise passengers.

The CLIA study revealed the future of the cruise industry is the younger generations, with GenX and Millennials being the most enthusiastic about planning a voyage. Younger travellers are also using travel advisors to book cruises at a higher rate than other generations.

As part of an industry-wide effort, cruise lines are using technology, infrastructure and operations to decarbonise, with multiple pilot projects underway and new propulsion technologies being planned and tested.

Data also showed that 60 pc of the ships scheduled to debut between 2023 and 2028 would rely on liquefied natural gas (LNG) for their primary propulsion, significantly cutting down their carbon emissions.

It adds every CLIA-membership being built today through 2028, except expedition, is scheduled to be fitted with shoreside power capabilities. Currently, 30 pc of ships, representing 40 pc of capacity, is plug-in ready, while 30 pc is to be retrofitted. CLIA says that 29 cruise ports worldwide have at least one berth with onshore power and 20 additional ports are funded or planned to have shoreside power by 2025.